SynCare Addresses March of Dimes National Premature Birth Crisis

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – SynCare, LLC: In the spirit of the March of Dimes tag “saving babies together”, SynCare LLC has a prescription for successfully reducing preterm* birth rates. The state of Indiana’s preterm birth rate is currently 13.5%, ranking the state 37 out of the 50 and yielding a report grade of ‘F’. According to Healthy People 2010, Indiana’s preterm birth rate is more than 70% higher than the 7.6% objective and increased by more than 26% between 1995 and 2005. Notably, these statistics lend to the major financial drain employers, insurance companies, health plans, and uninsured parents experience as a result of prematurity.

According to the March of Dimes, the direct health care costs for premature babies during the first year of their lives averages fifteen times higher than babies born healthy and full term. The financial burden extends beyond the cost of healthcare, often requiring time away from work for parents of pre-term births (additional hospital stay days, doctor visits), which translates to lower worker productivity. This national crisis calls for a united response.

SynCare is answering the crisis call with a response that reduces healthcare costs and improves outcomes for mothers and babies through a perinatal offering (program) that combines direct patient interaction, physician participation, and community resources. SynCare recently released data reflecting a 7% pre-term delivery rate (just under the Healthy People 2010 goal of 7.6%) for women enrolled at least 90 days in the perinatal program.

According to Ray Broughton, Executive Vice President Business Integration, “We believe the difference in the SynCare program is a result of intensive care management, case management, social service management, patient education and disease management all rolled into one perinatal program. Pre-natal care is of vital importance in improving birth outcomes and reducing overall healthcare costs. The longer healthcare professionals can work with women, the better their outcomes will be”. The synergy in the SynCare approach to reducing costs and improving outcomes offers a “personal touch” that often includes a social services component for women enrolled in the perinatal program. In fact, over 60% of the women in the study received such services. “SynCare knows that the social services aspect is vital in connecting the women enrolled in the program with where and how help exists. This not only alleviates stress and anxiety, it also allows them to better cope with the pregnancy and make behavioral changes leading to healthier, full-term births.”

Data from the study also revealed a 10% reduction in babies admitted to neo-natal intensive care units. SynCare was able to show one client a 3-1 return on investment for the perinatal program. SynCare believes the birth outcomes improve with the ability to reach patients earlier in their pregnancy. Enrolled patients are taken through a risk assessment to identify risk, and to develop individualized care plans for each patient. The SynCare model has been compared to the traditional days of when doctors’ visits were made in the home. The face-to-face visits and telephonic interaction when working with patients and providers reinforces the probability of better healthcare, leading to reduced premature births and healthier babies.

Jennifer Howse, President of the March of Dimes, recently said it best in the December issue of Pediatric News, “we are determined to find and implement solutions to prevent preterm birth, based on research, best clinical practices, and improved education for moms”. SynCare is heeding the call by providing solutions and salutes the March of Dimes in urging state efforts and employee health plans to join together to prevent and to reduce preterm births.

*Preterm is less than 37 weeks gestation.

ABOUT SYNCARE LLC

SynCare, LLC is an innovator in disease and case management, with discrete expertise in managing asthma, diabetes, prenatal, obesity, and other chronic co-morbid conditions. SynCare’s flexible and scalable services are designed to create behavioral changes that improve clinical outcomes, such as improved quality of life, increased employee productivity, and reduced workplace absenteeism while decreasing short- and long-term health care costs. For more information, visit www.SynCareLLC.com.


2.0 Group
Kelly Smith
kelly@2-0group.com
317 577-1804